hektēmor

The term "hektēmoroi" refers to a class of tenant farmers in ancient Athens, primarily during the 7th century BCE. These individuals were obligated to give one-sixth of their produce to wealthy landowners to whom they were indebted. This arrangement symbolized a form of subordination and was often marked by the presence of "horoi," or mortgage stones, on the land.1

The hektēmoroi system was a significant source of social and economic unrest in Attica. The reforms of Solon in 594 BCE abolished this system, canceling debts and freeing those enslaved for debt. This act, known as the "shaking off of burdens," aimed to create a more just, though still stratified, society. While Solon's reforms liberated these farmers, it also created a labor shortage, leading to the increased use of chattel slaves from outside Attica. The hektēmoroi were distinct from the geomoroi, who were peasant farm holders but held a higher social standing than artisans and were eligible to attend the Assembly.12